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A study has found that people who disrupt their natural body clock are more likely to have mental health issues.
People who are inactive during the day and active at night have an increased risk of mood disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder.
Researchers at the University of Glasgow published their findings in The Lancet Psychiatry, by using a large sample of over 91,000 people in the UK.
According to Professor Daniel Smith, the “findings could have important public health implications, as increasing reliance on artificial light, particularly at night, is associated with disturbed circadian rhythms. This is because people exposed to high amounts of artificial light at night are less able to synchronise their rhythms to natural daylight cycles.”
Professor Smith Professor Smith recommended that people turn their phones off by 10pm to support their body’s natural circadian rhythm.
Those who are more likely to have problems are “people who have very poor sleep hygiene, people on their mobile phones at midnight checking Facebook or getting up to make a cup of tea in the middle of the night,” he told the Times.
“Not using your phone late at night and having a regular pattern of sleeping is really important,” Professor Smith explained.
“But equally important is a pattern of exposing yourself to sunshine and daylight in the morning and doing activity in the morning or midday so you can actually sleep properly.”
For more information, talk to a GP or health professional or call:
- SANE Australia Helpline 1800 18 SANE (7263) www.sane.org
- beyondblue support service line 1300 22 46 36
- Lifeline 13 11 14 www.lifeline.org.au
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